"IMEC is a world-leading independent Research Center in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology. It is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has representatives in the USA, China and Japan. Its staff of about 1400 people includes close to 500 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2006, its revenues are estimated to be over EUR 230 million.

IMEC’s research focuses on the challenges for next generations of chips and systems, and on the enabling technologies for ambient intelligence. IMEC’s research bridges the gap between fundamental research at universities and technology development in industry. Its unique balance of processing and system know-how, interdisciplinary expertise, intellectual property portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure and its strong network of companies, universities and research institutes worldwide, position IMEC as a key partner for shaping technologies for future systems. IMEC exerts this expertise in strengthening the local industry via innovation, training and spin-off creation. IMEC’s spin-off portfolio includes more than 25 companies.

As an expansion of its wireless autonomous microsystems research, IMEC has set up a legal entity in the Netherlands. The Stichting IMEC Nederland runs activities at the Holst Centre in Eindhoven, an independent R&D institute that develops generic technologies and technology platforms for autonomous wireless transducer solutions and systems-in-foil."